Report -Matthews Riding School Gillingham Kent Oct 15

28DL Member

Matthews Equestrian Centre was owned by a guy called Tony Rocco who made his fortune as a professional wrestler back in the 70's. He built the place as a memorial to his son Matthew who died at a very young age. Mr Rocco wasn't a horseman by any means...but he was a visionary and a very good publicist and so at the time Matthews Equestrian Centre featured heavily on the local tv. He did get to hold few big shows and in fact I was privileged enough to compete at the first of them in the pro-am final...partnering none other than Michael Whitaker on Disney Way the council put the nail in the coffin of Matthews by refusing planning permission for more major shows and as a sort 'up yours' to them, Mr Rocco decided to leave it there to rot rather than redevelop it.

The site is very run down and fire damage is evident, its very open to the elements as most of the roof is gone. Its been badly smashed up by vandals

28DL Full Member

Even though it's badly bashed, tattered and burnt, it's still an interesting place to visit in my opinion. It is a shame that some people haven't learnt to appreciate places of old though =( It would be something completely different if the current condition was closer to what it was ten plus years ago.

28DL Full Member

I keep hearing/reading from urbexers that this Tony guy was a former wrestler - is this true? I did a bit of research and found a famous wrestler by the same name, but based in the USA; I'm thinking it could originally have been a mix up and started as a rumor?

Admin

I keep hearing/reading from urbexers that this Tony guy was a former wrestler - is this true? I did a bit of research and found a famous wrestler by the same name, but based in the USA; I'm thinking it could originally have been a mix up and started as a rumor?

28DL Full Member

I couldn't find much on him at all; all I could find were articles from newspapers about his recent attempts at starting up other similar sites, with a few pictures of him at his current age - certainly doesn't have the brawn of a wrestler!
I mean, I know he would have lost weight after retiring, but he would probably still look more muscular than an average retiree if he was a wrestler.